UNDP Jobs - 56394- Individual Consultant( Public Finance Specialist),

Individual Consultant( Public Finance Specialist), for Indian Nationals Only.

Location :

Agartala, Tripura, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Jul-2015

Application Deadline :

19-May-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Six months.

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

In the current programme cycle (2013-17) UNDP is implementing a project titled ‘Strategic programmatic engagement at state level’ to work closely with state Governments to improve delivery mechanisms and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of governance structures and programmes. This objective will be achieved inter alia by providing high quality analysis and advice on programme implementation bottlenecks and support to ensure higher inclusion and participation of excluded groups in governance and implementation

Government of Tripura is one of the partner states under the project. UNDP is seeking the services of a Public Finance Specialist who would be responsible for supporting the public finance reform initiatives in the state. The incumbent would develop quantitative and qualitative assessment criteria for public finance management and large scale procurement undertaken by the state and provide relevant inputs to the public finance management reforms process in the state.

S/He will be part of the Development Support Service Centre (DSSC) in the state attached to the office of the Principal Secretary, Planning and Co-ordination Department, Government of Tripura,. Assistance will be based on the State-level framework for institutional and governance reforms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Principal Secretary, Planning and Co-ordination Department, Government of Tripura and in liaison with the Management Specialist, UNDP, the Public Finance Specialist will provide technical assistance inobjective evaluation of priority social and economic development programmes in the state.S/He will be embedded in the Office of the Principal Secretary, Planning and Co-ordination Department, Government of Tripura, and will support key functions including but not limited to evaluating the overall public finance management framework in the state; analyse the procurement process in various development and infrastructure investments in the state; establish a robust public finance management process in the state; support the operationalization of the public finance management and procurement framework with active coordination with various line ministries.

The indicative list of functions of the Public Finance Specialist will include:

Develop an overall public finance management framework for the state in consultation with the administrative and political leadership of the state;
Build and maintain a comprehensive inventory of all the procurement mechanism currently underway in the state;
Support the assessment of the degree of effectiveness of current and proposed interventions with respect to the public finance management framework of the state;
Collect, analyse, and present information and data on state’s public finance management and procurement processes;
Support the operationalization of public finance management tools for effectiveness and efficiency gains in the state;
Train a cadre of procurement specialists across line ministries and implement an assessment and certification process using global and national certification frameworks;
Develop operation manuals, standard operating procedures to institutionalize efficiency and effectiveness of public finance management in the state.

Results

As a result of the technical assistance and support provided by the Public Finance Specialist, the public financial management and procurement functions will be significantly strengthened in the state.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Develop effectivepublic finance management and procurement strategies relevant to the state’s development context;
Identify critical points of integration across line ministries for effective public finance management;
Generate high quality information and documentation;
Network effectively with partners to build strategic alliances;
Identify capacity building requirements for counterparts and partners;
Anticipate counterpart requirements;
Solicit feedback on the technical support they are providing;

Core Competencies:

Promote the highest standards of ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate political acumen;
Support creativity and innovation;
Help create an enabling environment for open communication;
Share knowledge and support a culture of learning;
Demonstrate fairness and transparency.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

MBA /Master’s in Economics, Finance, or other relevant disciplines in development sector

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in national / international public finance management and large scale procurement system development;
Demonstrated knowledge (education, publications, etc.) of development of North East India and prior experience of working in Tripura is desirable;
Demonstrated capacity to write clear and well-constructed reports, training manuals, process documents; and
Excellent communication, interpersonal and liaison skills with government, inter-governmental agencies, UN system and international and regional development partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and other relevant institutions;
Consultants with extensive experience inpublic finance management reform and/or public procurement at the national/state level will have an added advantage.

Language:

Written and oral proficiency in English is required.Knowledge of Bengali is preferable.

Duty Station:

Agartala, Tripura;
The Consultant is required to report regularly to the office as per the State Government policy;
Relocation expenses, if any would be borne by the successful Consultant.

Documents to be submitted:

Curriculum Vitae including experience in similar projects, and Names/Contact Details of 3 referees;
A brief (not more than 3 pages)technical proposal that includes a write up on the status of public finance management in the North Eastern states in general and the state of Tripura in particular. The documents should be referenced appropriately and a select bibliography provided with the proposal;
A Financial proposal indicating all inclusive per day consultancy rate. The consultant will be based in Agartala. Preapproved official travel will be reimbursed as per the procedures established by the Government of Tripura.

Note: Kindly club all the documents in one file for uploading as system allows uploading of one document only.

Financial Matters:

Payments will be made on a monthly basis for the actual days worked on satisfactory completion of activities as agreed with the supervisor.

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive;
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria weight - 70%;

Financial Criteria weight - 30%.

Evaluation Criteria:

Technical Proposal: 35 Marks;
Relevant Experience:25 Marks;
Qualification:10 Marks.

Notes:

Please note that there will not be any fee payable for holidays and leaves taken, if any;
Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
CV and Financial proposal can be clubbed in one file for uploading;
The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.

For any clarification please write to sandeep.sharma@undp.org